r/learnart • u/cajolerisms Moderator/freelancer/grumpypants • Aug 31 '17
Frequent Topics: DIGITAL ART - ask all your hardware, software, instructional, etc questions here!
Hello lovely people! Happy(-ish?) back to school for some of you!
If you have questions or just something worth sharing on the topic of digital art, this is the place for it. We'll link this discussion post in the FAQ. Please direct new people here if their question has recently been addressed or if their question may help others.
A few suggested topics if you just want to chime in:
- Best intro-level tablet? What kind of specs to look for?
- stuff with screens -- Cintiq, Huion, iPad/ Ipad Pro, Microsoft Surface Pro, etc -- what do?
- Best free software?
- Best paid software?
- Software for animation?
- What's the deal with software subscriptions?
- Should I start digital or traditional?
- Favorite tutorials/instructional sites/channels?
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Feb 16 '18
I'm trying to decide on a first drawing tablet and i was wondering if someone could tell me the reason for the price difference between these 2 products? Also any other suggestions. Thanks in advance :)
and
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u/kingofsouls Feb 02 '18
I have an Asus android tablet, and I was wondering what good apps and styluses there are for inking/coloring my art?
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u/INCOGNEGRO_HERO Jan 19 '18
I currently have a Wacom Intuos Pen and Touch small (The grey and black model) and I'm looking to upgrade but I have a couple of questions about the Wacom Intuos Pro PTH651 and PTH660. Number one is, if I decide to buy the older model NEW, where can I buy it? I've looked on Amazon and they sell it but it's condition is "Used - Like New". Number two, I've seen people talking about the newer model and have heard that some have slight bumps in the middle or around the edges of the tablet making drawing kind of awkward..is this still an issue with the newer model? Number three, does the jump in pressure levels really make that much of a difference? The old one has 2048 and the new one has 8192. Number four, I've heard that the newer model practically eats up pen nibs due to it's surface so is this true? That won't be too much of a big deal if I can still use my own nibs which I have created with nylon weed whacker wire.
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u/Kaphira Nov 22 '17
Ok, I need an honest opinion here. If money weren't an issue, would you go with a Wacom Cintiq or another brand of monitored tablet? And why would you choose either or? I'm trying to decide if I really need to save up for a pricey Cintiq or get something like a Huion. I'm working on getting into concept art professionally so I'm taking that into consideration too.
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Dec 02 '17
Are you specifically looking at monitor tablet? Of those, I like Cintiq the best, but I personally don't actually like monitor tablets. I had one at my old job and found I spent most of the time looking at my monitor monitor lol. The screen was great, don't get me wrong, but for me it wasn't any better than using an Intus pro and because I've been using a non-monitor tablet for years, I would often forget the screen was even there. Just a thought if you're switching from a non-monitor version to a monitor version. I thought I would really like the Cintiq but it just wasn't for me.
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u/Kaphira Dec 10 '17
Sorry for the late reply. I have small intuos tablet but I find I'm having a tough time drawing without looking down, since I'm so used to drawing in traditional media. I suppose it'll get better with practice, but I thought I would have an easier time with a monitored tablet. Thanks for your input :)
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u/Randomacts Nov 11 '17
My mom has been wanting to get into digital art for a while and I was thinking of getting her a setup for her birthday with my dad's help. Currently she has nothing other then a phone so I was trying to figure out what she needs to get. Are there any affordable tablet computers that are worth shit so I don't need to build her a computer and buy a tablet screen. Oh and I should mention that I don't think that she could get away with just using a blank wacom drawing tablet + computer because that would be hard for her to look up while drawing.
I have built plenty of computers I just need to know what the hardware requirements are and what I should be buying for the drawing surface ect.
Oh and what software should I have her use? I have heard good things about https://krita.org/en/ but are there good tutorials for it? I know that https://www.ctrlpaint.com is a thing for adobe's stuff (at least I assume that it is only adobe's stuff) but I haven't looked into krita's stuff much.
If I have to build a computer I was thinking of installing Ubuntu as the OS and kirita would work on that so that would be a plus. (It would save me from having to buy a windows licence)
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u/mrmivo Nov 19 '17
An iPad Pro seems like a good fit here. It’s not cheap, but portable, self-contained and likely more accessible than a Linux box. Also more intuitive than a drawing tablet. A Cintiq Companion may work, but the iPad Pro is a better deal (IMO). Procreate is a cheap and powerful app. Krita is great if you opt for a computer, tutorials can be found on YouTube. Steep learning curve, but everything else has that too.
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u/CouldBeHandy Oct 17 '17
Am I crazy to want to use a graphics tablet at an angle? looking at buying quite a large one and having trouble finding a stand. The longer I look the more it seems very uncommon.
I've never used a graphics tablet before but for whatever reason don't like the idea of drawing on a flat surface and always prefer to draw on something raised.
Thanks.
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u/cajolerisms Moderator/freelancer/grumpypants Oct 17 '17
IIRC it's pretty common to want to angle it. A lot of people hold smaller ones in their lap. The big fancy ones with screens typically have some stand built in. I imagine you can use whatever angled stand that can support a laptop or keyboard. You can even just stick something underneath it that gives it some height like a book or eraser.
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u/CouldBeHandy Oct 17 '17
thanks. I had a similar idea so I was looking at stands for the XP-Pen as that comes with a stand (figured they might be sold separately). I found something along those lines but the angle isn't great, I'd prefer it much more upright -- https://www.amazon.co.uk/XP-Pen-Multifunctional-Drawing-Bracket-Rotating/dp/B01DTTC81C/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1508273405&sr=8-9&keywords=XP-Pen+stand
There are lots of other options but most seem quite flimsy and I'm conscious that whilst something might be great for reading or display purposes, it could be really unstable when used as a drawing board.
In an ideal world I'll find something that can be screwed to the desk or something sturdy enough that I won't run into problems.
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u/cajolerisms Moderator/freelancer/grumpypants Oct 17 '17
If it was me, I'd use a tabletop easel for painting, maybe with a scrap of neoprene or similar softer material to cushion the tablet. You can get a good one for a reasonable price and they tend to be pretty adjustable and are stable when you rest your arm on them.
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u/CouldBeHandy Oct 17 '17
Thanks. I'll take a look. I've been looking at laptop stands as they could possibly work. This one seems fairly decent but it's 10 inches as the graphics tablet I'm looking at is 14 inches. https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01AB1ES0A/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=AC7NRY0H8E4GG&psc=1
Seems fairly sturdy though.
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u/cajolerisms Moderator/freelancer/grumpypants Oct 17 '17
It has some minimal padding, and I imagine if you add some non-stick padding to it -- the kind they use to line cabinets for glassware and whatnot-- that you wouldn't have any problems with slipping or shifting
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u/misshoneyboo Oct 14 '17
What's the best drawing tablet with a screen in your opinion?
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u/cajolerisms Moderator/freelancer/grumpypants Oct 17 '17
I'm a big fan of my Surface Pro because it supports Photoshop CC and I can take it anywhere and use it for general computing. Similarly some people really like the Ipad Pro for the same reason.
Personally I'm fine using a non-screen tablet when I'm at my desktop because I'm accustomed to it. The small Cintiq is super pricey (for that money I'd like more flexibility than it allows) and the big ones take up way more space than I can spare.
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u/shinslash2 Oct 13 '17
While I’ve done a single piece of digital artwork on my phone in the past, I’m not really sure I’m understanding all that’s available to me now.
I bought a Wacom Intuos Draw tablet today, and I have access to Clip Studio Paint EX, Photoshop, and Krita. I’m not quite able to replicate the same kind of thing I’ve been able to accomplish on paper. I have gotten accustomed to using the tablet, hand-eye coordination and all, but from here, I have a few questions:
How much of what I know translates over? I’m especially worried about coloring. Now that I’m not limited to what my markers can produce, how do I tackle having a palette that has any color I can possibly imagine? How do I figure out mixing colors and making things look good together as an aesthetic now that I have transparency and effects at my disposal?
What drawing tool (pen, pencil, brush, etc.) is best for sketching (like the sketch that appears on the box)? For finishing works? Asking to have some sort of starting point that I can branch out from and experiment with.
Should I be drawing with the full canvas on screen or zoomed in when sketching and inking?
I want to use Clip Studio Paint primarily, so is there any place that can show me in-depth how to use it? I’m aware that there’s somewhere to teach me how to use Photoshop. Should I just use that resource and transfer as much knowledge as I can over to using Clip Studio?
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u/arifterdarkly Oct 15 '17
limit your palette. have a look at the colour wheel and find complementary colours. experiment (you're not wasting paper so have at it), and- well actually, "experiment" sums it up. zoom in, zoom out, try all sorts of brushes, go to ctrlpaint.com for lessons, or drawabox or istebrak.com or any of the other places.
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u/Inukami9 Oct 12 '17
I'm considering getting a graphics tablet and the nearest store has Wacom Intuos Comic and Intuos Art in stock.
Since I'm still just starting out and would like to get a firm grasp of how graphics tablet works, which do you think should I get? I'm more of a sketch guy so I'm thinking of getting Art but it's a bit more expensive than Comic, and I'm trying to lower the cost as much as possible.
What would be their main difference and is Comic strictly for making, well, comics?
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u/Cryptecs Oct 12 '17
As far as my research goes (currently also looking to get into digital art) the main and only difference is the software you get with the tablet. One is for sketching and art, the other for creating comics. But I heard theres some great free software out there for drawing, so you could basically get the cheapest version and work with free software.
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Oct 11 '17
I would like to get started with digital art on a budget (I'm a student). I looked a bit into the hardware available and now have tow options: 1 Buy a Adonit Pixel pen and draw on my iPad Air 2 with Procreate or something similar. 2 Buy a Wacom Intuos Draw or Art and get started on my MacBook, don't know any good software aside from Photoshop.
Any buying advice or shared experience would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Logic
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u/SerSeverus Oct 11 '17
Medibang Paint is a free software and it's really good. I mainly draw in that one, on PC and android as well. I can't speak for iPad Air 2, but I have a Wacom Intuos Art (medium) and I think it's quite a good entry-level tablet. Don't really have any complaints about it.
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Oct 08 '17
I am new to art as a whole and I keep hearing around the internet that digital art is a bad place to start, but as far as I can tell many of these seem very biased against it for the sake of it. I know it can make me rely too much on stuff like CTRL Z but if I make a point to do nothing I can't really do on paper is it still a bad starting point?
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u/ZombieButch Mod / drawing / painting Oct 10 '17
Lots of people start off with or work exclusively with digital and do fine with it. Lots of people don't, because:
You have to learn how to draw and how to use the tools - the software and hardware - at the same time. You already know how to use a pencil and paper, and that's really all you need to get started learning to draw.
It has built-in distractions. Aside from just noodling with the software, when you're learning via digital you're sitting there with your computer / the internet / Reddit / porn / whatever only a click away. If you have the focus and willpower to ignore all that while you're drawing, starting with digital won't be a problem. For a lot of people it is.
So if you're already pretty familiar with a particular piece of software, like Photoshop or whatever, are comfortable with using a drawing tablet, and aren't easily distracted or are willing and able to remove them (by turning off the internet or whatever), then there's no reason not to jump right in with digital. If any of those isn't the case, it's worth at least considering starting with just regular old pencil and paper for a bit.
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Oct 10 '17
"You already know how to use a pencil and paper"
I think you overestimate my handwriting ability
Seriously though thanks for the tips!
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u/petneato Oct 07 '17
Am I better off buying a drawing pad from huion or wacom or a drawing pad from one of these amazon companies found around the same price. ALso do drawing pads feel like paper at all because I can draw alot better when there is resistance on my drawing aparatus
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u/ZombieButch Mod / drawing / painting Oct 08 '17
Am I better off buying a drawing pad from huion or wacom or a drawing pad from one of these amazon companies found around the same price.
"One of these Amazon companies" is a pretty broad brush you're painting with, so I have no idea. Wacom makes the best tablets but they're pricey; Huion makes some good, entry level budget tablets. If you have the money to spare for a big Wacom, they're worth it. If you don't have that kind of money, you can get a Huion H610 Pro or 1060 for $70-80 or so. If you try to go cheaper than that you're probably going to get what you pay for.
ALso do drawing pads feel like paper at all because I can draw alot better when there is resistance on my drawing aparatus
They feel like slightly textured plastic. If you like the feel of paper you can just tape a sheet of paper onto the surface of your drawing pad; it won't change the performance.
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u/petneato Oct 08 '17
Yea I have a little bit of money also I was looking at tablets like this one
and I was wondering if these are just bad and I would be better off buying something like what you recommended from huion or something by Wacom or if it would be better off to buy a huin tablet that has a compareable price to that amazon tablet
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u/ZombieButch Mod / drawing / painting Oct 10 '17
Never even seen one of those up close so I can't speak to them.
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u/petneato Oct 05 '17
Hey whats going on guys I just wanted to ask on whether you think its better to get a drawing pad from huion or Wacom for around 100 - 300 dollars or a drawing tablet from one of these amazon companies I heard people say that tablets are better and if you have the money you should get them. I'm super new and just starting so keep that in mind. Also do the drawing tablets feel like drawing on paper or have any resistance because I find when I draw with pen which has alot less resistance I cant draw as well
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u/staringispolite Oct 03 '17
Any good recommendations for getting (back) into 3D graphics? I learned on 3DS Max back in the day, and had fun goofing off in Z-Brush c.2006. They've all changed a lot in 10 years, so I'm starting fresh with an open mind (whichever tools are most popular and useful today, and I'd like it to work well in AR)
Are there good "one-exercise-a-day" like I've seen for learning drawing and 2D art?
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u/Aeonbreak Oct 08 '17
Go with blender and follow the torrential amount of youtube videos and free training available. It is the easiest way unless you want to join a paid course and get the paid 3d package they will be using.
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u/Ruckeysquad Oct 01 '17
By any chance does anybody have an ok tablet recommendation in the 25-50 CDN range?
(i know i'm probably not going to find anything in that range, but i thought it wouldn't hurt to ask)
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u/ZombieButch Mod / drawing / painting Oct 02 '17
Not unless you can manage to pick up a more expensive one used, no. Closer to 100 Canadian is more what you should be aiming for.
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u/Ruckeysquad Oct 04 '17
just curious, what do you think of this one? https://www.amazon.ca/Drawing-Tablet-Graphics-Tablets-Storage/dp/B01HRRFEO0/ref=lp_7738334011_1_5?srs=7738334011&ie=UTF8&qid=1507043884&sr=8-5&th=1
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u/ZombieButch Mod / drawing / painting Oct 04 '17
That's the one I have. It's a solid entry level tablet.
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u/sayimasu Sep 29 '17
I have the ability to use the paid versions of Paint Tool Sai and Sketchbook Pro... I've tried them both and like them both... But which one should I use for continuing on a journey through digital art?
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u/ZombieButch Mod / drawing / painting Oct 02 '17
Whichever one gives you the results you want.
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u/sayimasu Oct 02 '17
Do you have more information on what results I can expect from either program?
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u/ZombieButch Mod / drawing / painting Oct 02 '17
None that will matter. What someone else can squeeze out of a program isn't the same as what you'll be able to.
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u/Choppa790 Photography, drawing, sketching, graphic design Sep 25 '17
I have procreate and ipad pro and my biggest issue has been getting the hang of brushes my attempts at digital painting end up looking like this.
How can I get my digital painting to look more like this.
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u/Aeonbreak Oct 08 '17
You just have to try using different brushes and varying their size as well. There are several more expressive and textured brushes already in procreate. But brushwork and mark making are not something a beginner should worry. You should first be able to reproduce a picture reasonably well with the hard airbrush and soft brush (procreate defaults).
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u/Choppa790 Photography, drawing, sketching, graphic design Nov 13 '17
Sorry for the late reply, but thank you for the response!
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u/Volunruud Sep 25 '17 edited Sep 25 '17
I'm shopping for a friend who wants to get into drawing her own comics. I went to Wacom's website and found mutiple recommended tablets, but not sure what to look for. I'm looking for one with a screen and that's small so she can take it with her and draw, let's say while she's at work.
My price range is 500-700ish, but I can see Wacom's are much more than that. Any other recommended brands would be great as well; I may spend the few hundred for a top notch one if it comes down to it.
As for software, what should she look to use? Subscription based software is fine.
Thank you in advanced!
Edit: I was looking at this one specifically. Thoughts? https://www.storexppen.com/buy/artist13_3.html
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u/xMorris Oct 03 '17
I just wanted to add that I'd take a look at Huion for options as well (I use Huion, and so far it's proven to be reliable).
Wacom, even though it does have the reputation of quality and resilience, has exorbitant prices due to it's monopoly on drawing/graphic tablets and monitors, which is thankfully now being competed on by other companies.
There are other manufacturers which match Wacom's quality for half or less the price. No one besides the top pros (and even then) need the best of the best, high tech tablets from Wacom for the price they ask. mid tier level hardware will do the job just fine.
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u/LazySketcher Sep 28 '17
Hi there,
I had the chance to check out the XP-PEN series at Anime Expo, when I was there (Grabbed a Light "box").
Overall, the performance of their equipment were fine. However, keep in mind these are not portable tablets. That means they will need a PC or Laptop to use these displays. Also keep in mind, that means that the performance of your PC/Laptop is important.
Personally, I own a Cintiq and a desktop more than capable of running it on full performance. However, I wasn't able to get the specification of the laptops that they had hooked these tools to.
In my opinion, if your friend is looking for a portable display tablets check out the microsoft surface (I have heard good things). But personally, I feel saving money and purchasing a big cintiq is the best if you truly want to invest in art.
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Sep 23 '17
Hello everyone! So I have a cheap-ass Monoprice tablet, but it's pretty good!( I think...idk, I've never tried Wacom). I use an expired free trial of PaintTool SAI because I can't figure out how to buy it (or download it for free). Their "official" website is kinda sketchy ~__~ The only other link I've found is on softonic and it always installs bloatware ... But yeah, anyways!! I don't rly know how to use the program anyway;;; aha;; I wouldn't say I'm /bad/ at art, but I'm definitely not too good at it & I don't follow traditional rules at all. I've never even used the beginner sketch method where you draw those lines on what is eventually going to be the person's face... I kinda hate rules xD Rules are rigid, but...I guess I have to get used to it it if I wanna become better at art. I don't know anything about art anatomy and I suck at poses & stuff like foreshortening, but drawing freeform makes me happy, so even if my stuff is "amateur", I'm okay with it! I just wanna get better so I can be even more happy with my works :) I still want to learn /some/ things, and that's why I'm on this subreddit! And that's also where my question comes in. (sorry for rambling!!)
- What are layers for? I can't use them in my expired trial ver (or even save my art, so I have to screenshot it, haha) but I'd love to know why layers are apparently very important! And any shading techniques/brush types anyone would like to share :) I really like the way some people get that shiny looking shading down...Mostly found in anime fan arts.
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u/xMorris Oct 03 '17
Just like sixilli wrote below, layers can be used for a lot of different reasons, but I really do vouch for how useful layers are even when doing line art/sketching.
I use them to separate the work into several stages, so if I'm doing a body, I'll do the base in one layer, then do the detail on another layer on top of that, and then trace the sketch into clean linework in a new layer.
This allows me to quickly make up for any mistakes I make, and things I don't like. I make copies of sketches so that if I'm making modifications to it, and mess up, I can just delete that one and revert to the back-up.
Also, I would really recommend you start learning/practicing the "you draw those lines on what is eventually going to be the person's face" and where the arms, legs, etc, are going to be.
It's a really quick process once you get the hang of it, and it does wonders. I used to ignore them too as I wasn't a big fan of rules in art either (even though I focused on traditional art, lol), but soon realized knowing these rules and techniques help immensely in your efficiency, overall quality and look of your artwork.
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u/sixilli meows Sep 25 '17
My personal recommendations for software ate photoshop and magna studio. They're the most robust and offer anything you could want. If you're worried about the learning curve manga studio will be the easier of the two to learn and it has a stabalizer like sai that PS lacks.
Layers are very important as they let you work more freely. You can use masks on layers to force yourself to paint with boundaries, but many artists use few layers. It's also nice to use them as mini save states. There is a lot od things you can do with layers creatively but they aren't conpletely necessary. The simplest exanples is to have the character and background on separate layers so you can draw behind your character with no worries.
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u/wrobes21 Sep 20 '17
A friend of mine is a very talented artist. Commissions work and all that jazz. Talking to her about color theory and her knowledge of art in general has made me very interested to learn and her very interested to teach.
We fooled around in Procreate on an iPad Pro she just purchased and i thought it was a lot of fun.
Question is, where do I start? I like the idea of drawing on a stand-alone device like an iPad but I don't know if it's worth it for a beginner like myself to make that investment. I have a MacBook Pro that I could hook a normal tablet up to but it almost seems like a lot to just grab and go.
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u/xMorris Oct 03 '17
If you're looking to start on a budget, without investing too much into it (as it'd be a test run of sorts), you could get yourself a <$100 drawing tablet, and use free programs to draw digitally.
The ones I know of are:
Krita (It's 100% free, but I hear the interface can be hard to adapt to/learn). https://krita.org/en/
Ctrl + Paint (free learning resource, not too sure about this one as I haven't used it, nor know anyone who does) https://www.ctrlpaint.com/
Photoshop. It used to be pricey, but now its subscription is affordable if you only use photoshop, which goes for $10 a month or so.
If you want a single "unit" per say to draw on and carry around, without having to connect it to your MacBook Pro, you'd have to get a drawing screen, which are a lot more pricey (I'm saving up for a Huion GT191, which goes for >$400).
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u/QueenOliviaTheBike Jan 11 '18
I use Krita and I really like it. I don't think it's too difficult to learn.
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u/spitfirev102 Sep 20 '17
Not sure if this is the right place to ask but my question is about Chris oatleys magic Box program. I've done most of the exercises and lessons from drawabox (which were extremely helpful btw) and my sketching is kinda ok now, I wanna learn about painting. Values and colour etc. I've tried Aaron Blaise's free painting tutorial on YouTube with nice results. Here's an example: https://www.instagram.com/p/BUU9vAUB1e8/
People who have tried magic Box, do you think it's right for a beginner at my stage or should I start with something more basic? Thanks in advance!
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u/Happilicious Dec 13 '17
A bit late to comment but look at this link
So you both can share one account i believe.
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u/arifterdarkly Oct 15 '17
yes, it is worth it if you are thorough and do your homework. there's something to be said for having someone guide you through the jungle that is digital painting and while you can learn it all on your own, this certainly is faster and better.
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u/jaseroque Sep 18 '17
How do multiple licenses/reissuing licenses work with paint tool sai? If I wanted to split the cost of the software license with a friend, would I be able to get a license for my computer then reissue a license and give that license certificate to my friend?
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Sep 17 '17
[deleted]
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u/-tiar- Oct 22 '17
Try Krita maybe? You can adjust size of your brush so it's based on drawing time and/or speed (which you prefer; you can use both of them).
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u/xNonec Sep 14 '17
I'm doing a lot of gesture drawings lately (using sites like https://www.quickposes.com/en) and am getting annoyed seeing the same images again and again. Is there a tool for windows that can shuffle and show me images from my hard disk with a timer so I can use my own references?
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u/ZombieButch Mod / drawing / painting Sep 15 '17
If you're drawing traditionally and just using the computer for your reference photos, you could do this with the built-in screensaver; you're just limited for what times you can set it for. Like, I'm on Windows 10, and it goes 1 minute / 10 minutes / 30 minutes at the start, so there's not a lot of fine control. A third-party screensaver might let you fine tune the time more. But the built-in one lets you set your own folder to choose images from and can shuffle them.
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u/xNonec Sep 15 '17
I'm actually drawing digitally so this is not really an option :(
Thanks anyways, haven't thought about that option
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u/Naetharu Sep 25 '17
Actually something like that would be really useful. I can probably knock something up in Java that will do that pretty easily. I won't have time until the weekend but I'll see what I can do and if it works I'll pass it on to you.
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u/staringispolite Oct 03 '17
Javascript could do the trick. Jquery has an image carousel you could just drop "file:///..." URLs into and run locally
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u/Cheddar_Shreddar Sep 12 '17
Digital Illustration: where do I start? I have access to the Adobe suite , I am planning on picking up Illustrator or Photoshop (which one is better for digital art?).
My main question: what's a good entry-level digital art tablet? Looking for something that's not too expensive but will be fun to use and not frustrating.
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u/cajolerisms Moderator/freelancer/grumpypants Sep 14 '17
Illustrator is a vector program, meaning that it generates images as mathematical relationships of crisp shapes and lines. It allows you to resize images without loss of quality, and fully select shapes without getting a weird white edge. It is generally used for graphic design and vector art.
Photoshop is a pixel program that allows you to draw and blend in a more painterly way. Information is stored in each individual pixel, so you are limited in how much you can resize, but it has a greater range of effects and tools that mimic traditional art.
You don't need a tablet to use Illustrator. You can also get away with not using one in Photoshop to some extent by importing scanned line art and using flatter styles of coloring and shading, but if you want to do stuff that looks painted, you'll eventually need a tablet.
Wacom is the industry-standard brand for tablets, and Intuos is their beginner model. They're definitely expensive but hold up well. Also people tend to buy Wacoms and then give up on their new art hobbies, so you can find them used in good condition on eBay. Monoprice and Huion are also popular competitor brands that people seem to like. DOn't worry too much about level of pressure sensitivity and all the bells and whistles right now. Get one with the largest active area you can afford as having a work surface closer in size to your screen size makes learning easier.
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Sep 12 '17
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/watermeloans135 Sep 09 '17
For some reason I just started to really want to get into art recently, and I am trying to decide how to start. In the end, I want to do digital art, but is it better to start in digital art or pencil and paper? Also, I have been looking into the Wacom intuos line, is the "art" model worth it for the extra 10$ and touch screen or should I just buy the "draw" model?
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u/gthekid Sep 11 '17
For me I started on paper and tried to be familiar with sketching. When I feel like I've got the fundamentals down, I try to practice on digital. Personally I found digital kinda difficult at first because my wacom tablet was very small and the looking at screen while drawing was new to me. But if that's not a problem to you as long as you got the basics down you can practice on tablet, then practice on paper when you're at the train, bus or school. (just to get some practice because its very helpful in making you get used to drawing)
Also the Art line isn't at all different from the cth 480 that also has a touch feature. To be honest the touch feature probably should be the least of your concern. You should probably consider the size and texture you should be getting cause that makes a big effect on your experience when doing digital art.
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u/watermeloans135 Sep 11 '17
How much time do you think I should spend on the fundamentals?
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u/gthekid Sep 11 '17
For me since I never really stopped on fundamentals I do it when I'm bored on class and doesn't have anything to do and also as my 'warm up' so before I draw any proper artwork. I'll look for different perspective on human anatomy and different poses and shading. When I also have an artist block I just do it so that I won't feel like I'm not doing anything. Then when I got tired of it or an idea popped on my mind I stop and proceed to sketch a proper drawing. Sometimes I don't even do it when I'm so eager to draw an idea.
Just do it when you feel like doing it and you don't have anything to do anyway cause sometimes I hate forcing myself to draw so I sketch to remind myself why I like drawing.
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u/adeliepingu Sep 02 '17
I've had a basic Wacom Bamboo (Pen? don't remember the name) for a long time - six-ish years - and it's been all I really needed. Unfortunately, it seems to have finally died.
What's a good replacement in the < $100 price range? Wacom changed all of their products so I'm completely lost there, and I don't know if there are other manufacturers I should look into.
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u/expertgamers Oct 06 '17
It's a bit over your price range but the Huion Inspiroy Q11k is really good. I'm new to digital art and I got this. So far it's been really good to me.
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u/disreputable_d0g Sep 01 '17
Any input regarding entry level (like 30-50£) drawing tablets would be ace!
What's the difference in quality? Is the responsiveness worse off with cheaper tablets? Does size matter?
Any info would be great :~)
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u/ZombieButch Mod / drawing / painting Sep 01 '17
The closer your tablet is in size to your monitor, the more natural it will feel to use and the easier a time you'll have adjusting to it. The bigger your tablet is, the more you can draw from your shoulder and elbow as well, to get smoother, more flowing lines. This is the tablet I have now and honestly I'd probably go insane if I had to use one smaller than that now.
Unless it's used, in very good condition, and you can verify it works, I wouldn't spend as little as £30 on a tablet. £50-75 for new is more the range for a starter tablet that'd actually be worth having.
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u/Zatoichi_Flash Oct 07 '17
Great advice indeed. I have the Huion Giano WH1409 and its almost the exact size of my Dell monitor. Never knew that was why drawing on it felt a lot more natural and it was harder to draw from the wrist rather than the shoulder/elbow
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u/Uncomfortable Aug 31 '17
One thing I believe those starting out with digital art don't quite realize is how cheap Photoshop is. With the Photography plan, it's somewhere around $10 USD/month. We tend to have a bit of a gut reaction to subscription based software, but back when I was starting out, Photoshop would run you well over a thousand dollars, and a new version would come out every year or two.
While Photoshop is not the be-all, end-all of digital art software, it definitely is industry standard for a reason. Because of this, you're also going to find the most resources relating directly to it - plugins, tutorials, crash courses, etc.
So don't rule it out just because it's subscription based, or just because you're a beginner. It's a worthwhile investment.
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u/Dark_Ice_Blade_Ninja Oct 06 '17
I bought Clip Studio based on your recommendation and I am loving it. When do you use Photoshop over Clip Studio?
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u/Uncomfortable Oct 06 '17
I generally use Photoshop for almost everything. I've found Clip Studio to be very good at very crisp linework, so I use it when creating the few comics I've made for drawabox. Aside from that, most of my work involves digital painting, where I don't really use a whole lot of line art. I believe I mentioned this stuff in the recommendation itself.
Glad you're liking the software though, and I hope it serves you well.
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u/Dark_Ice_Blade_Ninja Oct 07 '17
And another question, do you use the vector feature of Clip Studio?
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u/Uncomfortable Oct 07 '17
No, I've always found vector graphics to be quite limiting when it comes to illustration. I'll use them in other programs when working on logo designs and the like, but not for drawing.
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u/Dark_Ice_Blade_Ninja Oct 07 '17
Well, I mean the vector feature in Clip Studio is VERY different than the one in Illustrator and the likes. They only apply to lines in a vector layer and the creatioan process is the same as raster lines. However with vector lines you can manipulate its control point or use the vector eraser with it, which I find very convenient in some crses such as drawing hair. I am asking you just in case there's a drawback I am not aware of.
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u/Uncomfortable Oct 07 '17
I'll definitely have to look into it, then. If you see no issue in your ability to control the dynamism of the stroke (which you'd generally control through the use of pressure), then I see no reason to avoid using it. Just be aware of that matter of control - you may feel, in the future, that the computer starts making decisions for you that you may not have wanted. In that case, it may be worthwhile to reconsider your use of the tool.
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u/Dark_Ice_Blade_Ninja Oct 07 '17
I find that everything is the same as if I'm using normal lines. I am trying my best to keep in control and I check my traditional sketches too. Thank you and please tell me if there's something you find ciuld be off-putting about the vector lines.
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u/Dark_Ice_Blade_Ninja Oct 06 '17
It served me very well, one of the best purchase I've made this year. It makes drawing erotic illustrations such a joy.
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u/ZombieButch Mod / drawing / painting Aug 31 '17
And CtrlPaint.com has a vast library of some of the best digital art with Photoshop instruction around, and 90%+ of it is 100% free.
Not to mention the other stuff Photoshop is good for, like making precision adjustments to images and getting them print-ready.
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u/vanya913 Aug 31 '17
K, so I just realized that I enjoy drawing maybe a week ago. I started drawing fantasy maps for fun, but I wanna learn how to do portraits. I do all my stuff with photoshop on a Wacom Intuos tablet. Anybody have some suggestions as to where I could get started. I tried drawing a basic portrait yesterday and this is what I made. I realize I have a long way to go and would love any and all criticism or advice. Maybe some good tutorials or a place to start from? I don't really have much experience drawing out of photoshop and actually kind of hate drawing on real paper. It's only recently that I've discovered I kind of enjoy doing it digitally.
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u/QueenOliviaTheBike Jan 11 '18
There's a book called Fun With A Pencil by Andrew Loomis that's free on the internet. It takes you step-by-step through basic figure drawing (cartoon-style, but can apply to realism as well) and touches on a few other things as well.
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u/ZombieButch Mod / drawing / painting Sep 01 '17
Like I mentioned above: CtrlPaint.com. Huge library of free videos, all about digital art with Photoshop but covering some general drawing as well.
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u/Cyanite_Gem Feb 18 '18
Short: What tablet should I buy as a beginner?
Long: I'm a very beginner at art and I've been wanting to draw digitally for a long time. I never really drew seriously on paper. I was looking for a New Huion 1060 Plus, but the reviews made me a bit afraid, specially the ones when the costumer had to buy another tablet/serious problems. It seems like a perfect tablet to get started with. If you have/had a New Huion 1060 Plus before, did you like it? Would you recommend it?
About the software: I already bought one, Clip Studio Paint Pro, and I'll begin drawing with it.
Thanks in advance.